Login Search    

Journalism Program Strategy

Background

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the strategy and goals of the McCormick Foundation’s Journalism Program. It is intended to help our partners, prospective grantees and other interested parties better understand the program’s priorities.

Beginning in 2010, the Journalism Program has restructured grantmaking around Content, Audience and Rights.

This shift reflects the systemic changes in the news media and creates an opportunity for the Journalism Program to further honor the legacy of Col. Robert R. McCormick. The Foundation’s founder was devoted to quality journalism and First Amendment values. He knew how to build a loyal audience and how to keep it properly informed, engaged and entertained. He believed that nothing is more critical to the vitality of a democracy than a free, vigorous news media that provides citizens the information they need to make reasoned decisions.

Traditionally, the Foundation’s grant-making activities have been shaped by the life cycle of a journalist from student programs to news management leadership initiatives. The refocusing allows us to connect with an informed citizenry by investing in quality news content, protecting journalistic rights and educating people, especially young people, to better appreciated the importance of news literacy.

The New Path

A growing sector of the U.S. population does not distinguish or appreciate the difference of approaches among professional journalists, information spinners and citizen voices. The 24/7 news cycle and digital advances in disseminating information serve to further exacerbate this challenging situation.

We have embarked on a strategy of allocating resources to educating and stimulating news audiences beginning in middle schools. The process touches new Americans and underserved populations with the ultimate goal of creating a more engaged, informed citizenry.

The projects we are supporting focus on the importance of news to young people, the role of the First Amendment in our democratic society and ways to discern reliable information.

We are also investing in quality content and initiatives that enhance press freedoms. The approach outlined in the diagram below also ties into the Foundation’s overarching goal of improving civic health.



Journalism Grant Portfolio 2010-2011
journalism program strategy
 
News Literacy

Schools are challenged to keep up with the evolution of information sources in an environment where young people primarily consume their news online.

News literacy serves as the filter in this strategic overhaul. As we view it, news literacy programs provide:
  • A frame of reference to distinguish fact from fiction, opinion or propaganda.
  • An understanding of the First Amendment, the role of a free, independent media and the importance of journalistic values.
  • A curiosity to seek information and better understand communities, country and international affairs.
  • Help in navigating the myriad sources of digital information in a more skeptical and informed manner.
  • A foundation for exercising civility, respect and care in the exchange of information.

Content

Our content category addresses the continuous need to improve journalistic context, depth and quality. The need for such grantmaking is compounded by the significant downsizing of reporting staffs at many news organizations. Among the hardest hit sectors are investigative news units, specialized beat reporters and top flight senior editors.

The Foundation has a tradition of supporting watchdog journalism organizations, mid-career fellowship programs, journalism school curriculum reforms and a series of specialized reporting institutes.
The new landscape also has prompted the Journalism Program to pursue investment opportunities in not-for-profit news models and investigative centers.  Our roster of 2010 grantees includes selected local, regional and national models.

About 25 percent of our 2010 grantmaking budget of $5.9 million has been allotted to content enhancement programs.

Audience

The Audience initiative recognizes a shift in grantmaking focus from the newsroom to those who consume news.  Our work with young people, community news organizations and scholastic journalism programs has fueled interest in the potential of audience building.

 This new and biggest initiative includes support for middle school news literacy curriculum, high school programs, teacher trainings, niche journalism products, innovative approaches of engaging audiences and research about audience building.  Our funding embraces classroom and after-school youth programs, fresh approaches to covering community, citizen journalism efforts and news partnerships. There are many reasons for supporting this initiative ranging from sparking the interest of a new generation of journalists to addressing the information void between mainstream U.S. communities and communities of new Americans.

Our grants in this initiative include a technology fund for student media programs, news literacy curriculum demonstration projects in selected Chicago Public Schools and audience research studies by the McCormick Fellows, Asian American Journalists Association and National Association of Hispanic Journalists. About 60 percent of our 2010 grantmaking budget has been invested in audience building activities.  
Rights

Col. McCormick’s unwavering support of First Amendment freedoms and legal protections for journalists are perennial anchors of the Journalism Program.  Promoting freedom of expression and access to information will remain program cornerstones. 

The need for legal advice on FOI issues remain as urgent as ever, as government officials struggle to keep information away from public scrutiny. Meanwhile, studies reveal that a solid majority of students have no opinion on the importance of the First Amendment or admitted taking it for granted.

Grantees such as the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Illinois First Amendment Center monitor and challenge abuses, examine restrictive laws and strengthen support for press freedoms.

Our funding addresses government corruption, transparency, accountability and accessibility, with special emphasis on Illinois.  McCormick grantees will train journalists, educate the public and assist news organizations in their effort to shed light on questionable government activity. The Better Government Association, a newcomer to our grantee roster, is tackling abuse of the FOIA in Illinois. 
About 15 percent of our 2010 grantmaking budget has been invested in protecting the rights of journalists.

Impact and Evaluation

The Journalism Program staff actively monitors and evaluates the performance of grantees.  In addition to a detailed annual evaluation form and an independent analysis of our portfolio, the staff visits or interviews each grantee at least twice per year.

The Common Reporting Form asks for detailed information on performance measurements such as accomplishments, impact, obstacles and capacity building improvements. The data is then collected and analyzed by Philiber Research Associates, which then conducts a series of follow-up interviews with grantees and other journalism funders.

In its most recent evaluation report (March 2009), Philiber said the projects we funded:
  • Employed about 1,100 full- and part-time staff
  • Reached more than 600,000 people with their programs
  • Held more than 240 “knowledge” events that connected with nearly 100,000 journalists, policymakers, educators and students
  • Produced more than 200 reports, books, podcasts, videos and other relevant material
  • Hosted about 65 million Web site hits, page views, visitors or Web site users
  • Provided training and educational opportunities to more than 511 journalists.

 

The Journalism Program assumes a visible role in research and professional development.  Sharing knowledge with grantees and peers leverages our investments.  In its report, Philiber cited “the numerous partnerships forged among grantees as a hallmark of the McCormick Foundation’s legacy.”

2010 and beyond

Going forward, the Journalism Program expects to trim the grantee roster size, make some larger investments and increase multi-year funding. We also are following through on the goal of increasing investment in the geographic area Col. McCormick called Chicagoland. 

Journalism-oriented initiatives that train high school students and their teachers will continue as bedrocks of our program.  For example, the Chicago Youth Voices Network continues to blossom into a collective, cohesive movement.  This 11-member group recently was funded by the Chicago Community Trust to carry out a polling and reporting project on how youth are faring in the recovery by focusing on five key issues—crime, education, housing, health and employment.

In 2010, we will fund the launch an annual Chicago Youth Media Festival that will showcase the best in student journalism. 

We also have expanded our investment in Los Angeles and New York city youth communications organizations and news literacy programs. The ultimate plan is to support clusters of student journalism groups that operate in similar fashion as the Chicago Youth Voices Network in Chicago.

In addition to evaluating grantees, we attempt to measure our own performance. In late 2010, we will replicate a customer service survey taken two years ago of grantees and declined organizations.  The anonymous survey will provide insight on our process and communication skills.